Vandalised equipment will not be replaced after criminals rampaged around a popular beauty spot and children’s play area for the third time in a year.

Bracknell Town Council has decided not to replace picnic benches where parents meet to watch their children play in Hedgehog Park in Leppington, Birch Hill, because frequent vandalism means it would be a waste of money.

Overnight on Monday/Tuesday the yobs rampaged around the Birch Hill area.

They wrenched picnic tables from the ground in the park, smashing one into pieces and throwing the other into South Lake behind South Hill Park.

They also broke the railings away from the bridge over South Lake and took lifebelts placed around the lake for safety and threw them into people’s gardens.

Jo Legg, chairman of the Birch Hill and Hanworth Neighbourhood Action Group, said: “At about midnight we heard a huge bang – I thought my son had fallen out of bed but it was too loud for that.

“I rushed upstairs and looked through the window and saw two teenagers.

“When we went to the back of our house there was a lifebelt from [South Lake] in our garden.

“When I went out [the next day] one of the benches was in bits like matchsticks and the other was in the lake.

“The feet of the benches had been screwed to the ground and they’d wrenched them up.

“The bridge had been broken as well.

“We were amazed and horrified about the extent of the damage.

“Things like this make you really cross. Several of us are doing hard work to provide things for youngsters and then for something like this to happen it feels like a real punch in the stomach.”

Last year three benches were installed at the park but they were vandalised so Bracknell Town Council, which supplied them, took them out, repaired them and put two of them back.

But the benches were vandalised again so, again, the town council replaced them.

Cllr Chas Baily said: “They were only replaced about three months ago. We put them back, but we won’t do it again.

“We can’t have council money wasted in that way. One of them is smashed to bits, the other is waterlogged.

“It’s locals that suffer for the few who aren’t bothered.

“It’s a real shame because it is so popular. It’s not like those benches aren’t used.”

The two boys seen in the area at the time of the vandalism were aged between 14 and 16, had long hair and were wearing t-shirts.

If you have any information you can call police on 08458 505 505 or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.